I never cheat with motherlode - half the fun is earning the money, plus, beyond a certain point, you HAVE SO MUCH. I also don't cheat up skills or motives. I think about the only thing I've actively used cheats for is getting the bean tree (since they never run that event anymore and I missed it), and resetting critically stuck Sims. Like I've had townies SOMEHOW get stuck behind staircases with no way out, and I've had to reset them so they don't die alone and forgotten pleading for help beneath everyone's feet.
On the topic of cheats, is there any way to access the hidden households? For instance, my Sim is a detective, and the criminals he arrests when he closes out cases aren't listed in the normal unplayed households listing. I've had to get to super good friend status with said criminals, move them in, then split the household to get them into the neighborhood listing.
I'd also like to see the ghosts as well. There's one who pops up in haunted apartments, and he's UGLY, and he desperately needs a makeover.